Portable lamp device



y 1965 M. R. PORTER 3,183,348

PORTABLE LAMP DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1962 110d Iez'al Park z A? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,183,348 PDRTABLE LAMP DEVECE Mack Reid Porter, Wassona Park, Marion, Va. Filed Oct. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 228,297 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-54) This invention relates to a portable lamp device suitable for use by mechanics and other workers which can be readily adjusted to assume and be retained in a variety of preselected positions accordingly to direct a concentrated beam of light in a variety of directions.

In the prior art, there are many types of portable lamp devices suitable for use particularly by mechanics and other Workers. Generally, such devices are adapted either to be suspended from an overhead support by means of a suspension hook or to be rested on their side on a supporting surface when not held by the workman. When such devices are used in the suspended position, they normally hang vertically so that a concentrated beam of light is directed only in a radial direction relative to the vertical axis thereof, Whenever it is desired to direct the beam of light upwardly or downwardly and to retain the same in such positions it is necessary for the worker either to hold the device in the desired tilted position or to otherwise prop the device. The inability to adjust the position of such devices to direct a concentrated beam of light either diagonally upwardly or downwardly without the use of props or by holding, has been found to greatly im pair the utility thereof.

Another disadvantage of the various conventional types of portable lamp devices and particularly those having a cylindrically shaped protective member surrounding the lamp, is that such devices are diflicult to be positioned in preselected positions resting on their side and also be retained in such positions which is often desired when it is necessary to direct a concentrated beam of light upwardly as when working underneath an automobile. Often because of the rolling tendency of such devices, it is diflicult to position the device in the preselected position without either manually holding the device or using a separate prop member. Furthermore, it becomes necessary to reset such devices in the preselected position each time that the device is disturbed even slightly as when it is accidentally struck by a movement of the worker or by others tripping over or otherwise disturbing the electrical cord thereof.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an improved portable lamp device which is suitable for use by mechanics and other workers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lamp device suitable for use by mechanics and other workers which can be suspended from overhead supports in a variety of preselected positions to direct a concentrated beam of light in a variety of preselected directions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lamp device suitable for use by mechanics and other workers which can be adjusted in a suspended position to direct a concentrated beam of light radially relative to the axis thereof and diagonally upwardly and downwardly relative to the vertical.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lamp device suitable for use by mechanics and other workers which can be suspended from an overhead support and which can be trained about its own axis and adjusted in a vertical plane passing through the point of suspension so that the axis thereof will assume and be maintained in a variety of preselected attitudes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lamp device having a cylindrically shaped protective member surrounding the lamp which can be Ratented May 11, 1965 rested on the ground or any other desired support surface in a preselected position on its side to direct a concentrated beam of light upwardly in a variety of directions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved portable lamp device having a cylindrically shaped protective member surrounding the lamp, which can be rested on the ground or any other desired support surface in a preselected position to direct a concentrated beam of light radially relative to the axis thereof wherein means are provided for returning the device to the preselected position when the device is disturbed causing it to roll out of the preselected position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when read in'conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention having a portion thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

:FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced end View of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, shown resting on its side on a horizontal support surface;

FIGURE 5 is a reduced side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 in the suspended position having a portion thereof broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to the view in FIGURE 3 showing a portion of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE, 7 is also a view similar to the view in FIG- URE 3 showing a portion of a second alternate embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the broad scope of the present invention, there is provided a portable lamp device adapted either to be suspended fom an overhead support or to rest on its side having a counterweight member rotatably mounted on the device for rotation about the axis thereof which may be adjusted to enable the device to be posi tioned and maintained in a variety of preselected positions when the device is in the suspended position thus enabling the device to direct a concentrated beam of light in a variety of preselected directions. The counterweight member further is contemplated for use as an adjustable leg for the device when the device is used resting on its side to direct a concentrated beam of light in a preselected direction radially relative to the axis of the device and also as a counteracting means for returning the device to its preselected resting position when the device or its electrical cord is disturbed causing it to roll out of position.

Referring to FIGURES 1-5, there is shown a first embodiment of the invention comprising a base member 19, a lamp 11 suitably mounted in the base member having an electrical cord 12 and a protective member 13 surrounding the lamp also suitably mounted on the base member. The protective member 13 includes a reflector 14 and a wire network 15 hingedly secured thereto as at 16 and detachably retained by means of a resilient retainer as at 17. The reflector portion 14 is provided with spaced arcuate ridges 18 and 19 which are substantially in alignment with spaced arcuate wires 20 and 21 of the wire network to provide substantially continuous circular surfaces on which the device may roll.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the reflector portion 13 of the first embodiment is provided with an axially disposed rivet member 22 having a shank portion 23 extending through an axial opening in the reflector, a head portion 24 and a bottom collar portion 25 which abuts the underside of the reflector. Rotatably mounted on the shank portion is a radially projecting arm 26 which supports a suspension hook 27 having an offset shank portion 28. The counterweight member 29 is substantially L-shaped comprising a radially projecting arm portion 30 which is rotatably mounted on the shank portion of the rivetand 9. depending arm portion 31 which is suitably weighted for purposes as will hereinafter be described. Also mounted on the shank portion of the rivet is a friction or wave washer 32 which acts to urge the arm portions 26 and 3t} yieldingly against the underside of the head portion of the rivet to permit the counterweight member to be adjusted at any preselected position about the axis of the device. It will be noted that arm portions 26 and 30 may be rotated about the axis of the device independently of each other and also of the main body of the drive. p

The purpose of the ofiset weighted arm portion of the counterweight member is to shift the center of gravity of the device sufliciently away from theaxis thereof so that the device may be suspended at an angle to the vertical and be retained in such position as shown in FIGURE 5. Oflsetting the shank of the, suspension hook 27 further enables the device to be suspended at a greater angle to the vertical and also provides a means for adjusting the position of the device. It will be appreciated that the device can be adjusted to assume a variety of suspended positions to direct a concentrated beam of light in a variety of directions simply by rotating the device about the axis thereof to direct the light radially in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof and by rotating the radially projecting arm 26 which supports the suspension hook or the counterweight member, or both, to tilt the holder in a plane passing through the point of suspension and the center of gravity of the device.

When the present invention is to be used resting on its side on the ground or other supportsurface as shown in FIGURE 4, the counterweight member is rotated and positioned relative to the position of the reflector so that when the device is laid on its side it is supported by the counterweight member and on either the arcuate ridges 18 and 19 or the arcuate wires 26 and 21; a

It will be noted that with the counterweight member serving as a prop or support leg as described, whenever a person happens to trip over the electrical cord causing the device to roll in the direction of the arrow for a limited distance, the counterweight member provides a counteracting means for returning the device to its preselected position at rest, thus avoiding having the mechanic interrupt his work to adjust the position of the light.

Referring to FIGURE 6 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the shank 28a of the suspension hook is dipsosed axially and formed integral with the rivet 22a. The radial arm 30a of the counterweight member is mounted on the shank of the rivet as described in connection with the previously mentioned embodiment having a friction or wave washer 32a for urging the radial arm Stia yieldingly against the underside of the head portion 24a of the rivet to permit the counterweight member to be rotated about the axis of the device and retained in preselected position.

In FIGURE 7 there is shown a second alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the shank portion 28b of the suspension hook is oifset from the axis of the device and formed as an integral part on one end of a cross arm portion 39b of the counterweight member. The cross arm portion 36b is rotatably mounted on the shank 23b of rivet 24b at a point intermediate the shank of the suspension hook and the dependent weighted portion of the counterweight member which is not shown in FIGURE 7 but which is similar to the member as shown in FIGURE 1. As in the previous embodiments, a wave washer 32b or other suitable means is provided to urge the cross arm 30b yieldingly against the underside of the head portion 24b of the rivet to permit the counterweight member to be rotated about the axis of the device and retained in preselected positions.

4. It will thus be appreciated that there is provided' a novel portable lamp device which can either be suspended from an overhead support or be rested on its side on a support surface, which can be adjusted to assume and be retained in a variety of preselected positions to direct a concentrated beam of light in a variety of preselected directions.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a protective member enclosing said lamp secured to said base member,

said protective member comprising a reflector partially enclosing said lamp and a wire network enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, means for suspending said device disposed on said protective member, a counterweight member having a weighted portion offset from the 7 axis of said device, rotatably mounted on said device, said counterweight member being connected to said protective member adjacent said suspending means and having the weighted portion thereof extending along the length of said protective member for rotation about the axis of said device and yieldable means for retaining at least said counterweight member in preselected positions about the axis of said device.

2. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a reflector partially enclosing said lamp secured to said base member, a wire network attached to said reflector enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, a suspension hook member having a shank offset from the axis of said device rotatably mounted on one end of said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device, a counterweight memher having a Weighted portion offset from the axis of said device rotatably mounted on said one end of said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device and yieldable means for retaining the suspension hook memher and the counterweight member in preselected positions about the axis of said device.

3. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a reflector partially enclosing said lamp secured to said base member, a wire network attached to said reflector enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, said reflector having at least a pair of spaced arcuate ridges aligned with a pair of arcuate Wires of said Wire network to provide a pair 'of spaced circular rolling surfaces for said device, a first radially projecting arm member rotatably mounted on one end of said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device, said first arm member having a suspension hook mounted thereon, a second radially projecting arm member rotatably mounted on said one end of said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device, said second arm member having a weighted depending arm portion offset from the axis of said device and yieldable means mounted on said device for retaining said radially projecting arm members in preselected positions about the axis of the said device.

4. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a reflect-or partially enclosing said lamp secured to said base member, a wire network attached to said reflector enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, said reflector having at least a pair of spaced .arcuate ridges aligned with a pa r of arcuate wires of said wire network to provide a pair of spaced circular rolling surfaces for said device, a' rivet disposed in an axial opening in said reflector, said rivet comprising a shank portion passing through said axial opening, a collar portion disposed at one end ot said shank abutting the underside of said reflector and a head portion disposed at the opposite end of said shank, a first radially projecting arm member rotatably mounted on said rivet for rotation about the axis of said device, said first arm member having a suspension hook otfset from the axis of said device mounted thereon, a second radially projecting arm member rotatably mounted on said rivet for rotation about the axis of said device, said second arm member having a weighted depending arm portion offset from the axis of said device and yieldable means mounted on said rivet for retaining said radially projecting arm members in preselected positions about the axis of said device.

5. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a reflector partially enclosing said lamp secured to said base member, a wire network attached to said reflector enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, a suspension hook member having a shank axially mounted on said reflector, a counterweight member having a weighted portion offset from the axis of said device rotatably mounted on said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device, said counterweight member being connected to said reflector adjacent said suspension hook member and having the weighted portion thereof extending along the length of said reflector and yieldable means for retaining the counterweight member in preselected positions about the axis of said device.

6. A portable lamp device comprising a base member, a lamp mounted on said base member, a reflector partially enclosing said lamp secured to said base member, a wire network attached to said reflector enclosing the remaining portion of said lamp, said reflector having at least a pair of spaced arcuate ridges aligned with a pair of arcuate wires of said Wire network to provide a pair of spaced circular rolling surfaces for said device, a suspension hook member having -a shank axially mounted on said reflector, a radially projecting arm member rotatably mounted on said reflector for rotation about the axis of said device, said arm member having a weighted depending portion offset from the axis of said device, said counterweight member being connected to said reflector adjacent said suspension hook member and having the Weighted portion thereof extending along that portion of the device including the reflector and wire network and yieldable means mounted on said device for retaining said radially projecting arm member in preselected positions about the axis of said device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,345 3/23 Hawkins 240-54 1,642,367 9/27 Hand et al. 248292 X 1,735,295 11/29 Olley 24054.2 2,460,173 1/49 Halling 24054 2,510,708 6/50 Marshall 240-102 2,747,077 5/56 Salm 2402 2,987,612 6/61 Haulter 240-5215 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE LAMP DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A LAMP MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, A PROTECTIVE MEMBER ENCLOSING SAID LAMP SECURED TO SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER COMPRISING A REFLECTOR PARTIALLY ENCLOSING SAID LAMP AND A WIRE NETWORK ENCLOSING THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID LAMP, MEANS FOR SUSPENDING SAID DEVICE DISPOSED ON SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER, A COUNTERWEIGHT MEMBER HAVING A WEIGHTED PORTION OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF SAID DEVICE, ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID DEVICE, SAID COUNTERWEIGHT MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER ADJACENT SAID SUSPENDING MEANS AND HAVING THE WEIGHTED PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID PROTECTIVE MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID DEVICE AND YIELDABLE MEANS FOR RETAINING AT LEAST SAID COUNTERWEIGHT MEMBER IN PRESELECTED POSITIONS ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID DEVICE. 